51 online
 
Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 3 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
Exclusive to OpEd News:
OpEdNews Op Eds   

Media Misdirection

By       (Page 1 of 1 pages)   No comments
Message Damien Darko

So O.J is making headlines again. Just in time, too. We were starting to lose interest in Brittany’s latest public embarrassment and Lindsey Lohan hasn’t inadvertently displayed her “holiest of holies” this week.

 

This is why I don’t watch televised news any more. It’s also why I tend not to get my news from any source within the US. Apparently (at least according to those in the positions of media royalty), we can’t get enough stories about celebrities behaving badly, even though our country is being lead, merrily, along the path to our own oblivion. I suppose we should think nothing of the fact that we’re at war, and not handling that situation too well.

 

We shouldn’t care about the free-fall of the housing market as long as Paris Hilton is weeping uncontrollably over being unable to serve her jail sentence in her home, is that the idea?

 

I, for one, am completely sick of that.

 

I understand that there are some people who actually want to follow the lives of celebrities. I also understand that some of these people are also famous for a reason. This isn’t lost on me.

 

I had no problem with the fact that there was reporting of O.J.’s first little scrape with the law. I did have a problem with it making a complete mockery of the media. Okay, he’s been arrested and charged: we don’t need to know every bloody detail of the case. We also don’t need to watch the silly thing. Just report the important updates in the evening news and maybe break in with the verdict.

 

It was bad enough back then. These days, the celebrity-obsession of the media has gotten more intense, and there’s even more important news to cover.

 

A few months ago, major news outlets were covering the death of Anna Nicole for days, weeks…I’m pretty sure one or two were edging into MONTHS.

 

Why?

 

Okay, she was a celebrity (though I’m not really sure why) and she died. Tragic. I won’t discount that. I expect that to be reported on the first day for a couple of hours on the 24 hour news channels and maybe headline on the nightlies.

 

But it kept going.

 

Sorry, but it shouldn’t stay in the news for that long unless three days after her death she sat up and began demanding human brains for breakfast.

 

I was reminded recently of the film Network.

 

When it came out, it was shocking.

 

These days, it may well have been a documentary.

Rate It | View Ratings

Damien Darko Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

The Reverend Damien Darko is just a regular long-haired, liberal hippy who wants what's best for the world. He's the host of The Dark Side, a programme on The Free World Radio Network, and the author of The Dark Side blog. He's a bit (more...)
 
Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

Media Misdirection

Iran So Far Away

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend